Chapter One:

A Subtle Reunion

"It started out as any other story would… a girl was madly in love with the boy-next-door. Or in this case, the one down the creek. But this time it's my turn to tell the story. The spotlights on me. These last few years with Jen, Dawson, Pacey, Jack, and Audrey were the best ones… and also the worst. But like the sayings go, we learn from our mistakes. This is a story about how those mistakes became life."

"So, what do you think," I asked my best friend, Dawson Leery. Me and Dawson, Dawson and I. Either way, it was like we've been connected at the hip ever since we've became friends. And unfortunately, we also had a past (if you get what I'm saying). But through it all, we've remained friends. Finally there was no drama between Dawson, Me, and my boyfriend Pacey (his old best friend, and that is a story that is way too long to tell what happened between us). Dawson just shook his head.

"Joe, I've always said this, you've got a talent for writing. And why you sit behind a desk reading other people's books has been a mystery," he said.

"Well, we can't all have the dream job, Mr. Director," I said sprawling all over mine and Pacey's couch. Dawson finally had his dream job come and find him. He's wanted to be a director since… forever.

"That's not fair. I had many hardships," he said. I gave him my look that said: you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me. "What?! Like you haven't had life easier ever since you graduated college!"

"That's low...even for you Dawson," I said tickling him in the place where only I knew he was ticklish. I grabbed a handful of popcorn and threw it at him. "Oh ya. It's on." He grabbed some ice from the pop and threw it down my shirt. "Oh shit Dawson! That's freezing. Somehow then we ended up on top of each other throwing our snacks down each other's shirts and pant. I know what you're thinking… really mature. I looked down at him. This was the guy that I thought I loved. The guy I wanted to love me for so long, and when it finally happened, I can't even remember why we split up.

There are times when I wonder what would've happened if I chose Dawson instead of Pacey after Dawson's mom got married. Then at those times, I think of all of the times Pacey has made me laugh and smile. But, now, looking into Dawson's eyes, everything, including Pacey seemed to melt away. Dawson seemed to be thinking the same thing. He leaned up and slowly put his lip on mine.

The kiss was just as I remembered it a long time ago. Sweet. Tender. Dawson.

"Dawson, we can't do this. I'm with Pacey," I said trying to back away, but or some reason, I couldn't.

"Joe, I miss you. I hate living in L.A when you're here, in Boston. I miss you, and I still love you," he said. This cannot be happening. This cannot be happening! No one really knows how long it took me to actually get over him. Yet, here he is opening all of those hard-closed wounds. This cannot be happening!!!

"This cannot be happening," said Pacey quietly standing in the doorway.